Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:
- United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- Experience and Education (1) Experience. One year of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record. Six months of the required one year of experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform MRT work. OR (2) Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours directly related to MRT work (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and introduction to health records). OR (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and experience: (a) Six months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health information technology courses. (b) Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision. Training may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience, provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and medical record techniques and procedures. The position requires six additional months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record.
- Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
- English Language Proficiency. MRT (Cancer Registrar) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a [MRT (Cancer Registrar)] on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have 3 met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) MRTs [(Cancer Registrar)] who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) MRTs [(Cancer Registrar)] initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) Employees who are retained as a MRT [(Cancer Registrar)] under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation, lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a MRT [(Cancer Registrar)].
Grade Determinations:
MRT (Cancer Registrar), [GS-4] (1) Experience or Education. None beyond basic requirements. (2) Assignment. [MRT (Cancer Registrar)] at this level serve in entry level positions and receive close supervision from more experienced MRT (Cancer Registrar) staff members.
MRT (Cancer Registrar), [GS-5] (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or successful completion of four years of education above high school from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 24 semester hours in health information technology.
(2) Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate [all of] the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize health information technology and various office software products utilized in MRT (Cancer Registrar) positions (e.g., the electronic health record, coding and abstracting software, release of information systems, etc.). (b) Knowledge of the Joint Commission requirements, [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services], Commission on Cancer, and American College of Surgeons (ACoS) guidance and/or health record documentation guidelines. (c) Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work to complete duties within required timeframes and ability to follow-up on pending issues.
MRT (Cancer Registrar), [GS-6] (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level.
(2) Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate [all of] the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of medical terminology to understand the content of the medical record. 5 (b) Knowledge of anatomy and physiology to understand the location of the cancer[.] (c) Ability to operate computerized programs [ ] to review documentation within the electronic medical record. (d) Ability to notify appropriate parties and organize all required documentation to ensure complete case presentation at tumor boards.
MRT (Cancer Registrar), [GS-7] (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
(2) Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate [all of] the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of pathophysiology to understand the spread of the cancer disease process. (b) Ability to analyze the electronic health record and enter appropriate data into the OncoTrax cancer registry software abstract. (c) Knowledge of ACoS standards regarding tumor boards, including clinical staging, prognostic indicators, clinical guidelines, and clinical trials availability.
MRT (Cancer Registrar), [GS-8] (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
(2) Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience 6 above, the candidate must demonstrate [all of] the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of professional registry operations. (b) Knowledge of medical terminology, staging of cancer, and requirements of internal and external approving organizations. (c) Knowledge of the cancer committee processes and procedures to improve patient care and verify compliance with ACoS and/or facility standards. (d) Ability to serve as a subject matter expert on cancer programs for the medical center. (e) Skill in utilizing electronic health records and cancer registry software.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 through GS-8.